Cursed with Shadows (Hobbit Fanfiction)

Chapter Eleven: The Hard Truth.

Thranduil's P.O.V

The name almost felt foreign to my ears for I had not spoken of it for a very long time. The She-elf nodded her head slowly as her chin began to wobble.

And those eyes.

Those ocean coloured eyes I thought I would never see again, gradually became glassy with incoming tears.

"T-Thranduil." 

Her voice broke at my name as I placed a hand upon her cheek. A small gasp escaped both of our mouths when I touched her. She was really here and not part of my drunken hallucinations.

"You're real," I breathed out and Belle nodded. She turned her head to kiss my palm. "How?" I asked, bewildered by the sight of her. My wife - my dead wife - was standing in front of my eyes. "I saw you be taken away by that dragon." I cupped her face and wiped her cheeks free of tears.

Belle's P.O.V

 "I saw you be taken away by that dragon."  

"I managed to escape with Daeron's help," I explained to him in a small voice, my words struggled to escape my clenching throat. "I-" I stopped short as I saw his face turn stone cold. Panic started to boil within me and my heart launched when his hand dropped from my face.  My arms, in fear, reached out for him as he took a step back. His eyes downcast, his jaw clenched. 

"You have been alive this whole time. Alive for so many years. And yet..." 

He paused as his brows furrowed. Then, when he seemed to find the right words, he stared straight at me, glaring at me. "Why have you returned only now?" His lips had formed a thin line. The words I had spent years preparing for were now trapped in my throat at the sight of him. Those loving eyes that were constantly in my dreams during the years spent apart were now cold, and above, showed distrust and hurt.

No.

 My heartbeat thumped in my ears.

No, do not form conclusions Thranduil. Not yet! Please wait untillI have explained.

"You had abandoned us -"

"No Thranduil! Please listen to me, I- "I begged him and grabbed his hand. He ripped it from my grip as if I was made of poison and took another step back. 

"No, do not touch me!" 

The gentleness from his voice had left entirely. Instead, it was filled with venom. Venom which seemed to paralyze me from where I stood. 

"Please Thrandy-"

"No."

 He cut me off and pointed his finger at me. "You don't have the right to speak to me like that! Not any more," He spoke with such -such hatred, that it made me wince. 

"You left us, Belle! You left your husband, your only child! You abandoned us Belle. You abandoned your own family! And for what?!" He exclaimed. "Freedom? A new life? Is that more important than your own family?!" 

The look on his face sent a dagger into my chest. I thought his words would have sent me to tears, as I pictured it a million times. However, hearing it now, I could only feel the anger and frustration build up inside of me at his accusations. 

"I had to!"

 I raised my hands out at him in exasperation. "I had no choice Thranduil! I did what I had to, to protect all that I love. 

"To protect  my family, the entire Kingdom from him!

"Believe me when I say that there hasn't been a day that has gone passed where I haven't thought of coming back- of coming home.